Italy advances digital maturity and expands international media presence

Italy is narrowing the digital gap with the European Union in areas such as internet usage, connectivity, and digital skills. According to a Deloitte report, 79.5% of Italian SMEs reached a basic level of digital intensity in 2025, surpassing the EU20 average of 72.8%. While domestic connectivity is aligned with European averages, a significant gap remains in the use of online public services, with 43.5% of Italians using them compared to 66.7% in the EU20.

Artificial intelligence is identified as a key tool for enhancing digital security. A study of 1.85 million banking transactions showed that AI-driven digital identity systems can reduce false positives by 54% compared to traditional rule-based systems, helping to prevent fraud and assess risk dynamically.

In the media sector, Gruppo SAE is launching ‘La Stampa USA’, an English-language digital portal designed to showcase Italy to the American public and highlight Italian-American business relations. The project aims to support Italian SMEs by providing visibility in the United States, which serves as Italy’s primary non-EU export market. The initiative includes a partnership with SACE, the Italian Export Credit Agency, to provide editorial insights on commercial exchange opportunities between the two nations.